Concrete and Clay - Unit 4 + 2

It was rather like awakening on another Planet yesterday,

as gone were both wind and rain, while much needed cloud cover

remained blocking out the now ‘half Moon’ and the gauge showed +15°C.

Surely good conditions for a decent haul of Moths, but that was not to be!

As far as new additions to the Year List were concerned

there was but a single

 DINGY FOOTMAN

 but they all count!

Additionally, there was also a

 DARK BUSH CRICKET

well recieved as we do love these oddities outside of the Moths!

 This rather pristine specimen of

CLAY
(there isn't a Concrete Moth)

was also thought worthy of inclusion despite it having appeared before.

However, there was just a modicum of action before tending the traps

as the ‘yaffling’ of an excitable

Green Woodpecker

met the ear and seen flying well above the tops of the trees.

Unusual behaviour to say the least but considered as

Kestrel Evasive Action

as one of its nippers, thought to be 'second generation,

 was feeding on the tennis court.

 En-route to the Wid World lorries were, as usual, 3 deep awaiting thier

cargo of recycled 'biomass fuel' to be transported to Wales for power generation

and always good to see an Eddie Stobbart particularly if the ladies name is new to us.

The driver informed me that this is the only vehicle in the whole fleet where the

name is spelt incorrectly, which for the life of me cannot be seen, but traffic

build up precluded any further information.

Also on the lane

ROSE of SHARON

Hypericum calycinum

is in bloom and sharply contrasting with the nearby

BUDDLEIA

but no Butterflies!

Over the past few days we have also been observing what might be considered a mini

 FOXGLOVE

at the gateway to the Heath,

which has now reached full bloom at only 8 inches tall with the norm being 

between 2 to 3 feet or more.

Thinking this might be of a seperate species my far more learned friend

John Gifford

was consulted who suggests in its early days may have been browsed by a mammal

or other. He has also confirmed ID's on a number of other additions to this post for which

we heartily thank him!

NEVER TOO OLD TO ASK AND LEARN!

 Otherwise, it was left to a 

MEADOW PIPIT

there to provide the rest of the action looking every bit as if

causing havoc among the Grasshopper population

 but as we know

The Hungry Must Be Fed!

 Overlooked for a number of weeks now, without reason, we also paid a 

brief visit to the 

Sewerage Works

where was found probably the first

 DUNNOCK

juvenile preening

seen since that last call?

 and was also good indication that once again the

 BULLFINCH

(male)

 (female)

 (juvenile)

and again

 (male)

 (female)

and

(juvenile)

 and finally to the

Solar Panel Compound

 where the juvenile

 LAPWING's

were cooperating far more obligingly than our last visit

and can, for those of keen ear be heard 'calling'.

IT'S ALWAYS A WONDERMENT, AS YOU SWING INTO THE HAMMOCK, TO THINK WHAT MIGHT SHOW UP TOMORROW!

HERE'S HOPING!